fcr • « 



y 



A HISTORY 



OF 



GEORGE ¥. MURRAY, 



AND HIS LONG 



)8x):i:^6^^mBi^t at J^nd^t^$x):nt;iUB; 6ra* 



ALSO THE 



Starvation and Death of his Three Brothers 

AT THE SAME PLACE. 



By himself 



SPRINGFIELD, MASS.: 
SOLD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUTHOR. 

Price 25 Cents. 






SPRINGFIELD, MASS. '. 
SAMUEL BOWLES AND COMPANY, PRINTES9. 






[Pre fa c e . 



Readers : In writing this little book, I do not intend to 
bring before you a work of style or language, nor a history 
of the War. I intend simply to present to you a short nar- 
rative of my life as a soldier in the Army of the Potomac, 
and while a prisoner at Andersonville. Having lost the use 
of both my right arm and leg, which excludes all possibility 
of doing any work to assist in supporting a wife and three' 
children, I have, therefore, taken this method of raising 
means for their support. It is also right that you should 
know of the sufferings of those who fought for your country. 
Little do you know, unless you have experienced it as I have. 

The horrors of Andersonville cannot be exaggerated. We 
may look back among the dark ages, and even then you will 
not find a parallel. With them, we could say that ignorance 
and superstition was the cause of their brutality, and that 
they did not think that it was wrong, because their religion 
often demanded it of them. But what excuse can be offered 
for such conduct in the present age, where ignorance is only 



4 

the exception, and not tlie general rule among us ? There is 
none that can be ofFered. It was pure viciousness th^t had 
been engendered by the evil influences of Slavery. 

With these few remarks, I throw myself upon the gener- 
osity of the public, and crave their aid and assistance in 
supporting my little family. 

Yours Respectfully, 

G, W, Murray, 



History. 



I WAS born in tlie small Town of Bovlna, in Dela- 
ware County, Xew York. At the early age of two 
years, my parents came to the City of Springfield, 
Massachusetts, where I remained until I arrived to 
the age of manhood. In the meantime I learned the 
trade of a pattern-maker. I was the youngest ot 
four brothers, and like all other younger children, I 
was the pet of the family, and for -that reason I never 
left home until after I was twenty years of age, when 
my father and mother both died and left me without 
a home. 

Soon after the death of my parents, I went to 
Boston, and worked at my trade. My mind soon 
became unsettled, and my fancy led me to rambling, 
as is the case with most young men who have no 
parents to guide them. I must here admit that I was 
very unsteady as far as staying in one place long at a 
time. I have in my ramblings visited most all the 
Western States, and worked in most all the principal 
cities of the far West. But after a very severe at- 
tack of the typhoid fever, I was led to think seriously 
of providing for myself a home. Acting upon these 
convictions, I returned to Massachusetts, and at 



6 

Lowell of the same State, I became acquainted, 
loved, and married the lady who is now my wife ; and 
shortly after I went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where 
I remained until 1860, and then returned to Boston 
and lived until the breaking out of the Rebellion ; and 
beins^ -the son of a man who had fouo^ht for the estab- 
lishment of this our glorious Government, I thought 
it my duty to lend a helping hand in suppressing 
that wicked rebellion which threatened to destroy 
one of the best governments that the sun ever shone 
upon. Therefore, just as soon as I could arrange 
my business, I offered my services, aye, my life if 
need be, for the protection of the country from 
which I had received so many benefits. Myself, in 
company with three elder brothers, put down our 
names to assist in filling up the Eleventh Eegiment 
of Massachusetts Volunteers, under the command of 
Colonel Clark, who, after the first battle of Bull 
Eun, resigned on account of ill-health, and his place 
was filled by Lieutenant-Colonel Ilston, who had 
rendered assistance to his country in our war with 
Mexico. The Regiment was soon filled up and we 
were ready to take our departure for the sunny 
South. And I, bidding adieu to my wife and family, 
went in defense of our National Liberty. No one can 
tell, except those that were with me, and experienced 
the same trial that I passed through, the pain of sep- 
aration. Imagine if you can, how I must have felt, 
when obliged to leave those I loved, to meet with 
privations, danger, and probably death, in a strange 
land. But should I remain inactive, and see those 
liberties which I had so long enjoyed, ruthlessly 



plucked from me? I had an uncle wlio lost his 
life while struggling to establish this good and 
glorious Government; also a father who partici- 
pated, largely in those bloody contests of the Rev- 
olution, and those of 1812. 

Under those circumstances, I deemed it my duty 
to go, and follow the example of my predecessors. 
So bidding adieu to home and friends, we took our 
departure, and arrived at AYashington on or about 
the first of June, 1861, and encamped at Camp 
Green, and remained there until near the time of the 
first battle of Bull Run, when we received orders to 
march forward under the command of General 
McDowell. 

I will not attempt to give a description of those 
battles, as they are so familiar to all, and also because 
they have been commented upon by abler writers 
than myself. But I only wish to give you a faint 
idea of army life. I will state to my readers, that I 
was not accustomed to the life of a soldier or hard- 
ships connected therewith. As I have already stated, 
we received orders to march, and on the 19th of 
July, 1861, we packed our knapsacks and camp uten- 
sils, and made our way towards the memorable battle- 
field of Bull Run. On the night of the 20th, we 
halted *about two miles from Stone Bridge, and after 
taking some refreshments, we began to make prepar- 
ations for the coming day. After all things were put 
in order, the officers and privates collected themselves 
together in groups and were soon busily engaged in 
conversation, which was kept up the remainder of 
the evening. Some talked of their homes they had 



8 

left, others of their wives and children. My three 
brothers and myself separated ourselves from the rest 
of the company, and were talking of home and loved 
ones left behind. Our thoughts were solemn indeed. 
What would be the morrow's result? In all proba- 
bility, some of us Avho were conversing together would 
never behold their friends and homes again. While 
pondering over the probable results of the future, we 
were startled suddenly by the sharp crack of a mus- 
ket on our front which was immediately followed by 
several shots all along the picket line, that made 
not a little excitement in the camp, and caused many 
to think that the comino- struo^s-le was indeed near 
at hand. Who of us would survive the morrow? 
Promises were made by comrades, that whoever 
should fall, the survivor should bear the sorrowful 
tidlno^s to their friends and loved ones at home. A 
few remarks were passed between me and my brothers 
concerning the coming struggle. But they, not like 
many, did not think of home or family, for all that 
was left of the family were with us. But v/ith me 
it was different. I had a home, and those in it that 
I loved. But all that I could do was to pray that I 
might at some period not far distant see them once 
more. 

We made our beds and were soon in the* land of 
dreams. Day dawned, and it was one of the hottest 
days that I had ever experienced while in the army. 
About eight o'clock in the morning the long roll was 
sounded, and the command was for every man to fall 
in to his place. We soon formed a line and marched 
forward to meet the foe. This was our first battle, 



9 

and therefore the one which was to test our couraere, 
and as we marched forward, the sharp crack of the 
musket foretold us that our dreadful work was about 
to commence. We soon reached Stone Brido:e, and 
then we beheld the dark clouds of smoke. With a 
loud cheer, which issued from the lips of every man, 
we started on a double quick until we reached the 
main line of battle, and joined Hooker's Division, and 
supported the right centre. No charges were made 
by our men until about twelve o'clock, when we were 
ordered to charge. The rebels gave back for half a 
mile. Several charges were made on our left by the 
Sixty-Ninth New York Regiment and the Ellsworth 
Zouaves, but the results were of no great importance. 
The rebel cavalry made several charges on our left, 
but were repulsed with great loss of life. About 
two o'clock the rebels were reinforced by about thirty 
thousand men, who took the place of their nearly ex- 
hausted comrades. The day was very hot, and we 
could get neither water nor food, and many of our 
men fell from exhaustion, still we held our position at 
every point. We were cheered by our officers and 
told to hold the position until our reinforcements 
came to our assistance, and that General Halleck was 
coming to reinforce us. But time rolled on and re- 
inforcements did not reach us, and the forces were 
fast becoming exhausted, and it was plainly to be 
seen that victory for us was hopeless, unless we were 
reinforced soon. Our wearied lin§ must give way to 
the impetuous charges of these fresh troops that were 
hurled against us. In vain the officers tried to rally 
our drooping spirits and flagging limbs.* At about 



10 

half-past five o'clock our lines gave v^ay, and a gen- 
eral panic was the result. Men threw down their 
arms, and left the field over which they had so val- 
iantly fought for nine long, weary hours. 

All was excitement ; artillery and cavalry dashed 
over infantry, and our destruction seemed inevitable. 
In the meantime the Sixty-Ninth Regiment was out- 
flanked and cut off from retreat. "Surrender or 
die," cried the foe, when up rode their giant com- 
mander, who flourished his sword and exclaimed, 
"Die before you yield." 

Hand to hand the battle raged, when, by force of 
superior numbers, they were compelled to yield, leav- 
ing their colonel in the hands of the enemy a prisoner. 
"VYe became scattered in all directions. Whether 
the rebels were afraid that we would be reinforced, 
or that they were as badly ofl" as we were, I 
dare not say. At any rate, they did not follow up 
the advantage they had gained by our retreat, for if 
they had, I think that Washington would have fallen 
into their hands with but little exertion. No eflbrts 
were made to reorganize the demoralized troops 
until the next morning, when they were occupied 
three days before the reorganization was accom- 
plished. Nothing of importance was done, on ac- 
count of bad weather, until after General McClellan 
took command. 

October 2ist, was fought the battle of Edwards' 
Ferry, which resulted in no great loss to either side. 
Shortly after this. Lieutenant General Scott resigned 
and General McClellan was appointed in his stead on 
the 1st of November, 1861, after which nothing. 



% 11 

with the exception of a few skirmishes, took place 
until January 7th, 1862, when the battle of Blue 
Gap occurred, and on the 19th, the battle of Mill 
Springs, which was followed by another engagement 
with the rebels at Winchester on the 24th of March, 
1862. 

June 25th, was commenced the seven day's 
battle before Eichmond. These battles were fought 
in the midst of heavy timber, and at times it was im- 
possible to see the position of the enemy. The fight- 
ino* on both sides was very fierce, and every inch of 
ground was stubbornly contested. Many of the 
rebels were killed by the falling limbs which were 
cut off by our shells. July 1st was fought the battle 
of Malvern Hills, which was the close of the seven 
day's conflict. 

On the 11th, General Halleck was appointed Com- 
mander-in-chief. About this time the President is- 
sued a call for three hundred thousand men in order 
to fill our broken ranks. After this we marched on 
and fought that bloody and bitter battle of the second 
Bull Eun, on the 30th of August. The next battle 
that I was engaged in was that of Antietam. It was 
at this place where General Burnside first showed 
his military skill to the best advantage, and his corps 
fought valiantly under his leadership. 

On the 7th of November, General McClellan was 
relieved by General Burnside. On December 13th 
came the battle of Fredericksburo:. We marched to 
the river, and succeeded in throwing our pontoons 
across the stream. The Seventh Michigan again led 
the way across, and by them was the battle opened. 



12 

After the greater portion of the infantry succeeded 
in crossing over, the Eleventh Corps, commanded by 
General Hooker, charged upon the works three times, 
and were repulsed with great loss each time, our 
artillery being stuck in the mud on the other side of 
the river. Therefore, receiving no support from them, 
we were obliged to recross. 

This ended the campaign of 1862. We then went 
into Winter quarters. April 28th, 1863, General 
Hooker crossed the Rappahannock. May 2d, 3d and 
4th, the battle of Chancellorville was fought, be- 
tween the armies of Generals Hooker and Lee. June 
13th, General Millroy was surrounded by Lee at 
Winchester, Virginia, and on the 28th of June, Gen- 
eral Hooker was superceded by General Meade. 
July 1st the first battle of Gettysburg was fought, 
when the rebels advance was checked. On the 2d 
came the second battle of Gettysburg, and on the 3d 
was fought the third and final battle, which resulted 
in a victory for us. On the 24th of November, we 
stormed and captured Lookout Mountain, after a 
very hard fight. We were obliged to march up the 
steep sides of the mountain under a raking fire of the 
enemy, who were sheltered by their earth-works, yet 
in spite of their galling fire we marched steadily up 
to the cannons' mouths and by a rapid, sudden dash 
we became masters of the position, but not without 
losing a large number of brave men. 

On the 1st day of February, my three brothers 
and I re-enlisted in the Eighth United States Regu- 
lars, after which the reorganization and consolidation 
of corps took place. After all the hardships and the 



13 

many battles I had passed through, I, like many 
others, became fearless of the dangers that yet 
awaited me. After re-enllstino; in the Elo-hth United 
States Regulars, we joined the Second Division, un- 
der the command of General Wadsworth, of New 
York, who lost his life in defence of his country, on 
May 10th, 1864, and the Fifth Corps, under the com- 
mand of General Warren. March the 9th, General 
Grant was promoted Lieutenant-General. On the 
12th, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the 
armies of the United States. May 3d, Grant's army 
moved across the Rapidan. On the 5th, Lee desper- 
ately attacked our army with undecisive results. 
The next day Lee resumed the attack at dawn, and 
continued all day, but finally was compelled to with- 
draw ; our troops held their own position. The loss 
on this and the day before was about fifteen thousand 
men on each side. On the 7th, the railroad from 
Petersburg to Richmond was cut. 

On the 10th, came the battle of Spottsylvania ; 
the loss on this day was ten thousand men on each side. 
This was the hardest and bloodiest battle that I had 
yet experienced, for the enemy seemed bound on 
death or victory. About two o'clock in the after- 
noon our right wing was ordered to charge the rebels' 
left, but it was unsuccessful, and we were compelled 
to fall back, and a large number of our forces were 
taken prisoners. My three brothers and myself were 
amono- the number. 

I received a wound in my right arm, the ball en- 
tering between the two middle fingers, and passing 
horizontally through the arm between the two bones 
2 



14 

of the forearm, knocking oiF the cap of the elbow. 
I also received a ball in my breast, passing through 
the breast-bone, and lodging just above the heart. 
I then started for the rear, and had gone but a short 
distance when a shell was thrown from one of the 
rebel batteries, and on exploding a piece of it struck 
my right foot. This last shot excluded all possibility 
of reaching the rear. I sank upon the ground in a 
helpless condition, but I cannot say that I suiFered 
much pain at the time, although badly wounded; 
yet I felt very weak, faint and thirsty ; the last 
caused me much suffering. Water ! Oh ! Water ! 
What would I not have given for a few drops of that 
then priceless liquid ? But it was not to be had for 
either love or money. There was no friend near me 
to moisten my parching lips and throat. Brother 
had forgotten his brother, the father his son, the son 
his father, though at any other time they would 
gladly have done all for each other they could. But 
excitement had swept away those tender thoughts 
and affections. No thou2:ht was taken of the brother 
who might be shot down at his side. " Victory or 
death" was the cry, and often from the lips of dying 
heroes you would hear the exciting cry of " Give it 
to them boys, give it to them." All was excitement. 
Thus, the battle rolled on. Charge after charge 
was made, but to no advantage to either side. Night 
came on, and found the two armies still struggling 
for the mastery. The corps to which I belonged, 
had fallen back to their old position, and left me 
within the rebel lines. My wounds had become 
very painful, and I tried to crawl, but could not. I 



15 

then thought of my wife and children. I felt that I 
should never see them more. Then my mind swept 
back to my three brothers, who fought side by side 
with me through so many battles. Where are they ? 
Dead ? Oh my God ! Can it be ? Not one left to 
return home with the sad tidings ? Thus I sank into 
a state of complete exhaustion. How long I re- 
mained thus I do not know, but when I awoke I 
found that my wounds had become very painful, so 
much so, that I could control myself no longer. I 
madly called for the assistance of some kind friend. 
My screams of agony brought an answer. 

"Who is there?" came from out of the darkness. 

"A friend, a dying friend," I answered. "Come 
to me, and assist me. I will pay you well, only come." 

At that moment I heard another voice, " Advance, 
men." Then I discovered a squad of men approach- 
ing, and as they advanced I saw that they were 
rebels. They came near to where I was lying, when 
the leader said : 

"What do you want? and what is the matter?" 

" O, I am wounded, sir ; please give me some 
water," I cried. 

i' What regiment do you belong to?" 

"The Eighth United States Regulars, sir," I 
replied. 

" Well, we will see to you. Where are you 
wounded ? " 

" In my arm, breast and foot," was my answer. 

" Are you able to walk ? " 

" No." 

" Take hold of him, men, and bring him to the 
ambulance." 



16 

They picked me up and carried me according to 
orders, the ambulance being but a short distance 
from me, but it had been hidden from my view by 
the thick bushes and shrubbery. On reaching the 
spot, they began to search me — I had some money, 
which they took, also my watch, belts, cap and coat. 
Then they put me in the ambulance and started for 
the rear, a distance of about three miles, where we 
halted on a nice pleasant green, and found about one 
hundred prisoners under guard, among whom were 
my three brothers, who had been taken prisoners too. 
They gave me some water, and bathed my wounds. 
The surgeon came at last, and dressed my wounds as 
well as he could, and left orders for my brothers to 
bathe them in cold water, and gave me some lauda- 
num to soothe the pain. I suffered considerable 
during the night, and in the morning the surgeon 
again dressed my wounds, and the boys made me 
some coffee. Orders came to move the prisoners 
south as fast as possible, for the Union forces had 
been reinforced, and Grant was fast making his way 
in the direction of Cold Harbor, so the wounded were 
soon packed into an old lumber wagon, and started 
for Anderson ville. We arrived there the first day 
of June, 1864. The weather during the day was 
very warm, while the nights were cold and damp. 

ANDEESONVILLE PBISOK 

I will now attempt to give my readers a description 
of the prison. At the distance of about eight hund- 
red paces from the railroad which connects the town 
with central Georgia on the north, and the Gulf of 



17 

Mexico on the south, was the memorable prison. It 
was built on the suggestion of Howell Cobb, in 1863, 
and was completed in February, 1864. It is situated 
about fifty miles south of Macon, Georgia ; its longi- 
tude, was 7° 30' west from Washington ; latitude, 
3° 20' 10" north of the equator. This piece of ground 
had been thickly covered with pines, but they were 
cut down and formed into a palisade over twelve feet 
high, side by side. This formed the boundary line 
inside of which forty thousand human beings were 
herded at one time. There was neither bush nor 
shrub left, — not even a shed or shelter to protect 
them from the storm, or the burning heat of the sun. 
Such was the condition of this horrid place, where 
many of my brave comrades suffered the pangs of 
misery, pain and death. The prison was watered by 
two small branches, which connected at about one 
thousand paces distance from the outer wall, and passed 
directly through the middle of the prison. On either 
side of the branch, the ground was descending. On 
one side was the hospital ; on the other the sinks 
were erected, and the filth of both passed directly 
into the water that was to supply the inmates. It 
became so filthy, that in the month of July it was 
filled with animal life, which made it nearly impossi- 
ble for man or beast to use it. I will not spend 
time in stating the horrors of that accursed, and, I 
might also say, damnable hole of sorrow, for many 
are the mothers that even weep to-day, when they 
hear the name of that prison mentioned. Yes, many 
are the wives who mourn the loss of an affectionate 

husband. Many are the orphans to-day, who were 

2# 



18 

made so by starvation and death at Andersonville. 
As I have before stated to my readers, there wsls no 
shelter, with the exception of a rampart of logs, 
rising from fifteen to eighteen feet in hight above the 
surface. It measured ten hundred and two feet in 
length, and seven hundred and seventy-nine feet in 
width. It was lengthened in the Fall of 1864, to 
sixteen hundred and twenty feet. I think that was 
the last time repairs were made on it by order of the 
rebel, Captain Wirtz, who took command of the 
prison in the Fall of 1863, and remained there until 
its evacuation in the latter part of March, 1865, when 
his career of cruelty ended. During this short 
period, he had seen the bodies of not less than eight- 
een thousand brave soldiers, (who had become the 
victims of cruel and barbarous treatment,) laid in 
their graves. Did they die with those diseases which 
nature inflicts upon man? No. I can safely say 
that out of that number, over twelve thousand deaths 
were caused hy starvation and ill-treatment. I will 
now state to my readers some of the horrors of that 
terrible den of suiFering and cruelty. 

When I arrived at Andersonville, my wounds were 
in a terrible condition. Still I cherished the hope of 
being paroled ere long, as I was disabled for life, and 
of no use to either friend or foe. On arriving at the 
prison, the commanding officer of the hospital in- 
formed Captain Wirtz that there was no more room 
in the hospital, and until some of the present inmates 
died, we would be obliged to remain in the outer 
quarters or old stockade. We were then conveyed 
to the thirty-third detachment. This prison was 



19 

divided into detacliments, which consisted of from 
eighty to one hundred men. An officer was appoint- 
ed from among the prisoners to see to keeping the 
number of men in his detachment and also to aid in 
dealing out rations to them. When we arrived at that 
part of the prison, I was laid on the ground, beside 
a large stump. The day was exceedingly warm, and 
I asked one of the men to give me a drink of water, 
when he presented me with an old horn which 
answered as a drinking cup. But what was worse, 
the water that it contained was in no condition for 
either man or beast to drink. It had become staer- 
nated, and a green slime had accumulated on it. This, 
then, was the water we had to drink, and the only 
water that was to be had within those limits except 
when the Almighty pleased to send rain upon the 
earth ; then, if we were provided with something to 
catch it with, we had a glorious treat. 

My brothers were sent to the same detachment 
that I was, and they aided in doing all for me that 
could be done to make me comfortable. They set to 
work at erecting a sort of mud hut, and completed it 
on the following day, and gained the permission of 
one of the officers of the stockade, to gather some 
leaves for a bed. This was the only shelter we had 
to ward oiF the rays of the burning sun, and it 
answered very well for that purpose ; but when a rain 
came, we were compelled to abandon our little cottage, 
as it was not water-proof. I had come to the con- 
clusion that I should be obliged to remain here until I 
died. I never expected to behold the faces of my 
dear ones at home, never more to inhale the sweet 



20 

breezes of the Free North; for I felt that I could 
never recover from the condition in which I was now 
placed. But how true it is that "man proposes and 
God disposes." My eye could not penetrate the 
future ; neither could my mind understand His will. 
At the time we entered, it did not seem possible that 
I could survive the sufferings through which I had 
to pass. Having three wounds to contend with, and 
no medical assistance, I could cherish but little hope 
of ever being at liberty again in this world. I tried 
to forget those happy days of the past, and if I 
thought of it at all, it was but as a dream. I prayed 
that my wife and children might be well cared for, 
and that the promises of those benevolent friends 
might be fulfilled. 

Day after day, wore away. One by one my com- 
rades passed into that bourne from whence no 
traveler returns. I was terribly startled by discov- 
ering a change in the countenances of my brothers. 
They were becoming thin, pale, and haggard. Oh, 
how plainly were despair and hopelessness pictured 
upon their faces. Reason taught me that we must 
soon part. I tried to cheer them up, and pointed 
out to them the pleasures that yet remained for 
them, but it was of no avail. They had become des- 
pondent and hopeless of the future. Sorrow and 
homesickness had struck deep into their hearts, and 
it was evident that, starvation was fast accomplishing 
its bitter work. 

Many of my readers may wonder how I survived 
so many of my fellow-soldiers who were not 
wounded. The only reason that I can give, is, that 



21 

I did not allow my thoughts to dwell upon my 
present condition. I had often heard eminent sur- 
geons remark, that homesickness was the worst 
disease in the army. Was it surprising that it should 
be prevalent in such a place as Andersonville ? 
Want of nourishing food and privilege of proper ex- 
ercise would naturally tend toward melancholy and 
depression of spirits. Time wore on, and the wound 
in my breast had nearly healed over ; the one in 
my arm was not so painful as it had been, though 
I was threatened with the prospects of losing my arm, 
and probably my life, being attacked with gangrene. 
I watched it closely, and kept it clean. Gangrene, 
as a general thing, is caused by allowing filthy mat- 
ter to collect in the wound. 

On the 10th of August, 1864, one of my brothers 
was taken with spasms, and died the same night. 
On the following morning, he was put into an old 
cart and carried to the burying-ground, which was 
situated on the north side of the prison, about one 
hundred yards distant from the stockade. ^ My two 
brothers w^re permitted to go to bury his remains, 
under a guard. While looking upon his worn, 
emaciated countenance, it seemed that I could almost 
hear him say : " O, weep not for me, when I am 
gone, weep not for me brothers, though in prison I 
bid you adieu, I hope you will meet me in heaven. 
I have got my discharge, and am going home.'* 
This was the first of the four brothers, but not the 
last, whose remains were borne to the grave in this 
manner. Had we passed through these battles to 
meet such a fate — doomed to be starved to death in 
Andersonville ? 



22 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF EEBEL CRUELTY. 

After the return of my brothers, Captain Wirtz 
passed through our detachment, and as he was pass- 
ing through, a young man, who had become so weak 
that he could not walk, looked up to him, and ad- 
dressed him as follows : " Captain, oh ! captain, 
will you please give me something to eat, for I am 
dying of hunger?" 

On hearing this, Wirtz sprang forward, and with 
his revolver, struck the poor man on the side of the 
head near the temple, and laid him senseless on the 

ground. Wirtz then exclaimed : " There, d n 

your soul, you've got bread now, such as all you 
Yankees want." 

He then passed on through the prison, cursing 
those who were not able to walk or help themselves. 
After he had gone, my brothers went to the man 
who had been so cruelly treated, and washed the 
blood from his face and tried to make him comfort- 
able ; but he soon went into spasms and died that 
night. 4 

Our rations had been reduced to one-half pint of 
corn meal per day, and a greater portion of it had to 
be eaten raw. I had become very much emaciated, 
and very weak, and I found that in spite of all my 
attempts to be courageous, I was failing daily, while 
the death of another brother only increased my 
despondency. 

I beheld one after another carried to their last 
resting-place from out our number. What was the 
cause ? Answer, Starvation, 

LofC. 



23 

On the 24th of August, another of my brothers 
was attacked with the small pox, and was carried to 
the hospital. The doctor made incisions in his arms 
about one and a half inches in length, and put some- 
thing in them and sewed them up. The result was 
terrible, and proved to be the cause of his death. 
Within five hours after the operation, the skin became 
as black and swollen as if poisoned, and in less than 
two days the flesh was alive with maggots. On the 
second day, my brother died. After this, several 
men were inoculated with the same matter, under 
pretence that it was done to prevent them from taking 
the small pox, and I can safely say that not one of 
the number lived over three days after the operation. 
I had recovered so far as to be able to get around 
with the aid of a crutch that I had made out of a 
piece of board, and being very weak, I thought that 
a little exercise would be beneficial to me in gaining 
strength. 

INTERVIEW WITH WIETZ. 

I finally came to the conclusion that I would see 
Captain Wirtz, and talk to him. So with that pur- 
pose in my mind, I made my way to the gate, and 
asked the sergeant to give me permission to visit the 
Headquarters, which request he granted, and sent a 
guard with me. I met the Captain at the door, and 
saluted him. He looked at me for a moment, and 
then spoke to the guard in a rough, abrupt manner, 
saying : " What do you want here with that miser- 
able d—d Yankee ? " 

The guard replied that I wanted to see him. 



24 

" What do you want ? " he roughly asked. 

" Captain, I am a cripple, and unable to give any 
assistance for or against you, and wish you to let me 
go from here. I am starving in this horrible place." 

Then he said, looking crossly at me : " You did 
not think of that when you came to drive us from our 
homes, and steal our niggers, did you?" 

" No, my intention never was such, nor did I en- 
list for such a purpose." 

" You lie, you Yankee devil, that is what you 
came to do, but I guess you will have a high old 
time of it," he said. 

" I beg your pardon, sir," I then said : " I came 
into the army for the same purpose I would go 
again, and that was to protect the government of my 
country that my father before me fought to estab- 
lish." 

" You mean that you came to take away the rights 
your forefathers had established. Did you not ? " 

" No, sir." 

" You did, and if it was in my power, there would 
not be one of you alive, that was taken prisoners. I 
would hang you all, you d d Yankee nigger- 
thieves." 

*' I thank God that it is not in your power, nor 
ever will be." 

" Take care what you say, or I will put an end to 
you. I have heard enough of you already." He 
then drew forth a revolver, and pointing it at my 
head, said : " Do you see that ? I will put a hole 
through you, if you are not careful." 

" Do so, if you wish. Death is preferable to re- 



25 

maining in this horrid place. To be shot, is an honor- 
able death for a soldier ; but to starve to death is not." 

" Well, seeing that you are so willing to die, I 
will let you live. So go back, and don't come here 
again." 

" Well, Captain, I may live to see you in a worse 
situation than I am. Yes, a place that I would not 
exchange with you for all the world." 

" Oh, yes, I have heard of drowning men grasp- 
ing at a straw." 

" And I have heard of hanging men grasping at 
the air." 

" After saying that, I returned into the stockade, 
with far less hopes of liberty than before I saw the 
Captain. 

EFFOETS TO ESCAPE— T RE ACHEEY. 

On the 24th of October, the prisoners laid a plot 
to free themselves. It was a dark, rainy night, when 
the men rushed upon the guards and overpowered 
them, took away their guns, and locked them in the 
out-houses and vacated the premises, scattering in all 
directions. Many of them probably would have got 
away safely had it not been that there were traitors 
among them, who went to headquarters and gained 
their parole by informing the officers of the stampede. 
All was excitement amono; the officers. The alarm 
was given, blood-hounds were sent for, and a reward 
of thirty dollars per head was offered for every man 
that was brought back. In about three days all had 
been captured, and were returned, many of them 
being terribly lacerated by the fangs of the remorse- 
3 



26 

less blood-hounds. There was a large number of 
prisoners who were not able to try to make their es- 
cape, and during the three days that the captain and 
his men were hunting and bringing in the poor, un- 
fortunate men, we were not allowed anything to eat. 
When they had all returned, the captain busied him- 
self in trying to find out who were the leaders of the 
stampede. They offered to parole the man that 
would tell who they were. This investigation did 
not seem to amount to much, nor did the reward 
tempt us. After making this offer, and finding it of 
no avail, they resorted to threatening, and we were 
all brought into a line, and each man was threatened 
with death if he did not reveal to them the leaders. 
But they feared death less than they did imprison- 
ment or starvation. But there was some one, or 
more, who thought more of parole than honor ; and 
through their treachery, six men were taken out and 
hung, and our rations were reduced to half-pint of 
raw meal per day. Another fiendish regulation was 
made soon after, which compelled each man to go 
after his own rations, if he was able, and if not 
able, he had to do without. 

My third and last brother, unable longer to bear 
up under his misfortunes, sank into a state of idiocy, 
which, after a severe sickness, produced insanity in 
its worst and most revoltino* features. Oh I imascine 
if you can, my feelings, when compelled to stand and 
see him suffer that which was worse than the pangs 
of death, and to hear his wild, incoherent ravings, 
without being able to assauge his sufferings or re- 
lieve his agony. There he lay without the aid of a 



27 

physician. Scorched with fever, racked with pain, 
maddened by that terrible monster — hunger. Im- 
agine if you can, what a sight it must be, to be obliged 
to stand and look upon your brother hour after hour 
and see him gnawing the flesh from both of his arms 
as far up as he could reach. My God ! can I ever 
forget that scene of horror? After suffering thus 
for a few days, his exhausted system could endure 
it no longer. Death kindly relieved him from his 
sorrows. 

I was alone. I had lost three brothers, who had 
fallen victims to the cruelty of Wirtz and his follow- 
ers. Well might my courage fail, and my hopes die 
within me. I felt that my time must indeed shortly 
come. In the meantime the fingers on my wounded 
hand began to mortify, and had it not been for a 
surgeon, who was also a prisoner, I should probably 
have lost my hand, if not my life. He took his 
pocket knife and amputated my fingers at the last 
joint, also my thumb. About one-third of my foot 
also decayed and dropped off, and the cords con- 
tracted and drew my leg out of shape ; in which 
condition it still remains. 

After the 26th of February, 1865, I lost all recol- 
lection of what passed around me. The prison, (I 
understand,) was vacated on the 15th of March. I 
was left while the rest of the prisoners were sent 
south. On the next day, General Sherman's men 
arrived, and I was picked up and sent to the hospi- 
tal. My weight at that time was seventy-three 
pounds. I had formerly weighed one hundred and 
sixty. My first returning recollection was at Wash- 



28 

ington, June 16th, 1865, making in all, over three 
months that I lay in a state of unconsciousness. 
Being naturally of a strong constitution, I soon be- 
came convalescent, and gained strength quite rapidly. 

EETUKN HOME, AS FKOM THE DEAD. 

As soon as I was strong enough to venture, I 
started for home. I found that my Captain had re- 
ported to my wife that I had been killed. Therefore 
when I arrived at home, I found myself quite an un- 
expected guest. My wife had applied for a pension, 
on the supposition that I was dead. Nor was it 
strange that it should be thought so, for my friends 
had not heard from me for eighteen months. Home 
at last ! Oh, reader, how can I describe my feelings 
when I found myself in the warm embraces of my 
dear family ! You, who have never been away from 
those you love for any length of time, can form but 
a faint idea of my feelings. You that have always 
enjoyed the pleasures and comforts can never under- 
stand the indescribable sensations which I experi- 
enced, when, after an absence of years, — after long, 
weary months of suffering, deprivations and dis- 
tress, — I was at last permitted to surround the hearth- 
stone with my little family. 

I returned home a cripple. All the fingers on my 
right hand gone, and my arm, from my wrist to my 
elbow, partially paralyzed ; nearly one-half of my 
right foot was in a similar condition, while the rest 
of it is drawn entirely out of shape, which obliges 
me to use a crutch ; and the ball that entered my 
breast still remains there, and at times is very painful. 



29 

I returned liome a mere wreck of my former self. 
Therefore, unable to work, and ashamed to beg, I 
have taken this method to raise a small capital to 
start some business, in order to enable me to support 
my family comfortably. 

You may ask, as many have done before, "Don't 
you get a pension ? " I answer, yes ; but I need not 
remind you that the small sum of fifteen dollars per 
month will not support a man, his wife and three 
children. 

/I have fought and suffered for my country, and I 
sincerely thank God that it is at last free. I do not 
regret the steps I have taken in her behalf, and were 
she in the same situation to-morrow, and I was able, 
I would gladly fly to the rescue. I love my country 
even as my ancestors loved it, and accursed, thrice 
cursed, be the man that would attempt to destroy 
one of its noble institutions. 

In conclusion, I append a few statistics of the 
Union prisoners at Andersonville, and the deaths 
among them, from February, 1864, to March, 1865. 
The record of mortality here given shows, in some 
degree, the wickedness of Jefferson Davis and his 
tools. ; 



30 



STATISTICS OF ANDERSONVILLE PRISON, GA., 



FROM FEBRUARY, 1864, TO MARCH, 1865. 



MONTH. 


No. of 


No. in 


Av. No. of 




Prisoners. 


Hospital. 


Deaths Daily. 


1864, February, . . 


1,600 


33 




March, . . 


4,603 


909 


9 


April, .... 


7,875 


870 


19 


May, . . . 


13,486 


1,190 


23 


June, .... 


22,352 


1,605 


40 


July, . . . 


28,689 


2,156 


56 


August, . . . 


32,193 


3,709 


99 


September, 


17,733 


3,026 


89 


October, . . . 


5,885 


2,245 


51 


November, . 


2,024 


242 


16 


December, . 


2,218 


431 


5 


1865, January, 


4,931 


595 





February, 


5,195 


365 


5 


March, . 


4,800 


140 


3 



The greatest number of deaths on any single day, was 
on the 23d of August, 1864, and was 127, or about one 
death every eleven minutes. 



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